Chapter 58 348
Chapter 58
Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend , as Elizabeth half expected Mr . Bingley to do , he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine ' s visit . The gentlemen arrived early ; and , before Mrs . Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen his aunt , of which her daughter sat in momentary dread , Bingley , who wanted to be alone with Jane , proposed their all walking out . It was agreed to . Mrs . Bennet was not in the habit of walking ; Mary could never spare time ; but the remaining five set off together . Bingley and Jane , however , soon allowed the others to outstrip them . They lagged behind , while Elizabeth , Kitty , and Darcy were to entertain each other . Very little was said by either ; Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk ; Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution ; and perhaps he might be doing the same .
They walked towards the Lucases , because Kitty wished to call upon Maria ; and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern , when Kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone . Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed , and , while her courage was high , she immediately said :
" Mr . Darcy , I am a very selfish creature ; and , for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings , care not how much I may be wounding yours . I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor sister . Ever since I have known it , I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it . Were it known to the rest of my family , I should not have merely my own gratitude to express ."
" I am sorry , exceedingly sorry ," replied Darcy , in a tone of surprise and emotion , " that you have ever been informed of what may , in a mistaken light , have given you uneasiness . I did not think Mrs . Gardiner was so little to be trusted ."
" You must not blame my aunt . Lydia ' s thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter ; and , of course , I could not rest